Director, Student Supports

Meeting Street Schools (MSS), a unique network of five schools across South Carolina, was founded on the belief that all students can learn and deserve the opportunity to receive a high-quality education, regardless of their socio-economic background. It is our belief that a student's zip code should not determine a student's access to quality education. At MSS, we believe in a holistic approach to education and work to provide any and all resources that facilitate student success in the classroom and beyond as part of our twenty-year commitment from early childhood to college access.

You are a warrior for educational excellence for all students. You have experience leading people and developing systems in one or more of the following areas: core academic instruction, special education, multilingual education, wrap-around support services, after-school programming, and character & social-emotional development. While you're not an expert in every area, you possess wide expertise in a variety of key elements of the student experience.

You demonstrate our #SolidGreen Core Values every day.  This includes a "Never Stop Learning" mindset and a "Grit & Grind" work ethic that allows you to successfully maneuver through unfamiliar situations. You are "Results Oriented" and routinely mine data and infrastructure systems for the data to make data-driven decisions. You can analyze state and local policy to ensure compliance of our programs with all local, district, state and federal policies.  You understand basic compliance while holding an "Expansive Worldview" that shapes how you think about the totality of the student experience in alignment with our Portrait of a Graduate.  Your "Entrepreneurial Spirit" shines through in how you tackle new challenges.

You are a quick-thinking problem solver who is able to leverage the expertise of the team to maximize outcomes. This includes working closely with the professionals who provide services to our students who receive special education services, multilingual support services, and/or broader student support services ("Section 504").  Your vision for a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is fully inclusive and includes individualized student plans.  You know how to implement our "Paths To Success" character traits and other social-emotional learning and behavioral health coursework and services. You have a passion for integrating these into the student experience, and know how to integrate this into the broader work of the organization.  

You report directly to a chief-level role that is part of the management team at Meeting Street Schools. You are part of the Schools/Academics team that collaborates daily with School/Network leaders. Each network-level role plays an essential function in the organization.

Program Management & Organizational Compliance

• Set the vision for success (and related systems) for MTSS, Special Education, Character Development, SEL, and Multilingual Learners
• Design and implement professional learning for a wide range of stakeholders including school leaders, campus deans, Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs), Behavior Interventionists (BIs), and Related Service Providers (RSPs)
• Manage stipended positions and contractors including: Lead SLP, Lead ML Specialist, and Clinical Coordinator.
• Oversee rostering, scheduling, and state database systems for ML, IEP and 504 compliance
• Review data and create measurable metrics for success for multiple positions and teams across the schools
• Assist in the hiring and training process for special education teachers, academic deans, MHPs, BIs, and RSPs.
• Manage relationships with partner districts to ensure compliance with all local, state and federal requirements
• In coordination with campus principals, provide technical assistance on individual students and processes

Integrated Student Supports

• Manage external health and wellness partnerships in order to maximize student development across multiple realms of the Portrait of a Graduate
• Implement the organization's overall approach to character development and social-emotional wellness, to include both programs and measurement.
• Oversight of behavior interventions and supports at the student, classroom, grade, and school level.
• Embed Meeting Street Schools' Path to Success Skills throughout the school day
• Develop and lead monthly development opportunities for the adults most responsible for implementation of social emotional health and wellness at the schools: behavior interventionists and mental health practitioners.
• Extend network opportunities for students and families to access resources related to mental and physical health.
• Work with District partners to manage compliance and systems to support school-based nursing services.
• Extend and grow partnerships with external mental health service providers in order to maximize opportunities for students to receive therapy
• Track data supporting efficacy of social emotional and behavioral interventions in order to best allocate resources.
• Review network priorities and systems to ensure that Meeting Street policies and procedures. 

Instructional Supports & Academic Integration

• Design and implement research-backed math, reading, and writing instructional programs, curriculum, and strategies for students receiving special education services, in need of targeted academic intervention, and/or who are multilingual learners.
• Research instructional programs in specific areas of academic deficit (ex. Decoding, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, math fact fluency, etc) in order to best match student needs with appropriate interventions.
• Provide training, technical assistance, and direct development to teachers and leaders who implement intervention curriculums in schools.
• Oversee network approach to student attendance monitoring and intervention.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in special education, academic intervention and/or Multilingual Learner teaching and school leadership roles.
• Thorough knowledge of special education laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Preferred: Master's degree in special education, education administration, or a related field

The salary for this position starts at $80,000 and is commensurate with experience. Additionally, Meeting Street Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package including and not limited to:

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Pet Insurance

Life Insurance and Disability

Employee + Family Wellness

Tax Favored Spending Accounts (FSA/HSA)

Retirement Plans

Referral and Retention Bonuses